Morris Milstein moves to the US and starts his own flooring company

Morris Milstein (b. 1897)—the patriarch of New York's legendary Russian Jewish Milstein Clan—emigrated to the United States from Russia as young man. Settling in the Bronx, Morris began working as a floor-scrapper.

In 1919, Morris began what was the first in many Milstein ventures, Circle Floor Inc.

As the company grew, so did the scale of its projects. You can thank Morris for installing the floors in Rockefeller Center, the United Nations campus, LaGuardia and Kennedy airports and Lincoln Center, among other New York City landmarks.

In 2003 the family split its assets and the heirs went their separate ways

Little is known about the agreement, as the family refused to comment on it to the media.

What is known, however, is that Howard is now CEO and President of Emigrant Savings Bank and its holding company New York Private Bank & Trust and Philip Milstein is a principal in Ogden CAP Properties.